The Najma Street near Al-Thumama Electricity Signal. New roads being built as part of the Doha Expressway project are expected to facilitate hassle-free traffic movement to the southern side, especially Barwa Village.
By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter
New roads being built through Al Thumama, Al Rawda and Mesaimeer areas as part of the ongoing Doha Expressway project are expected to give a boost to the business activities at Barwa Village.
Commercial tenants at the complex have been complaining of poor customer patronage ever since its opening more than three years ago.
The complex has close to 900 shop rooms and more than 450 residential tenants.
The signing that took place last week for the second phase of the expansion of the Barwa Village project, spreading over a space of more than 32,000 square metres, has raised hopes among the tenants. Many of them are now looking forward to expanding their business activities at the place.
“The signing for the Village’s further development shows that the property’s developers are committed to not only its expansion but are also taking care of the growing requirements of tenants,” said a shop owner who moved to the complex from the Bin Mahmoud Area .
The second phase of the project will have more than 150 shop rooms and almost an equal number of family accommodations.
The Mesaieed-Doha bypass being built through the western side of the complex and other roads forming part of the Expressway Project are expected to make Barwa Village one of the most sought-after business destinations of Doha, with easy access from all four sides of the country, it is felt.
The further extension of the Najma Street from Al-Thumama signal and the new interchange being built near Kahramaa’s upcoming museum are expected to ease the traffic congestion on the E-Ring Road. Once the road towards the Wakrah bypass, starting from the intersection turning towards Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Al Thumama, is completed and traffic towards the southern side starts, shops at the Village will get more patronage, it is hoped.
The new roads are being built near the vicinity of the mixed development, with provision for inter-changes .
Some of the businessmen who had left the place complaining lack of business are now regretting the decision, it is learnt.
Though virtually no shop is currently available at Barwa Village, boards outside some of the retail shops in Doha city suggest that businessmen are still moving to the market complex, off Wakrah road.
Some of the shop owners feel commercial rents at Barwa Village continue to be low when compared with rooms of similar size in different locations of the city and some other areas in its immediate neighbourhood. A single-shutter showroom at the Village costs QR10,700 while a commercial space of similar size costs at least 50% more in the city areas.
Sources said the “key money” is also on the rise these days at the Village as there are renewed hopes among the businessmen about better fortunes at the Village in the coming days.
While businesses at most eateries at the Village have reportedly picked up in recent months, not all entrepreneurs are seemingly happy as they have lost huge sums all these years because of less public patronage.
Owing to better parking facilities a large number of auto accessory shops which used to be located in the city have shifted their operations to the Village in the last one year and a whole section there is now dedicated for this type of business.
